Children's home run by The Forge Nuneaton Limited

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674760 1 Registered provider: The Forge Nuneaton Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private provider and is registered to provide care for up to six children who have experienced trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is one of four homes on the same site.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has withdrawn her application to register with Ofsted and has left the home. The manager’s post is currently vacant. However, the deputy manager and senior leaders are supporting the running of the home in the interim.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 5 and 6 September 2023. Ofsted issued three compliance notices under regulation 10, regulation 12 and regulation 13.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the provider’s progress in meeting the compliance notices for regulation 10 and regulation 12. Inspectors found that managers had failed to meet the actions set out in the compliance notices and had not made the required changes to improve children’s safety and experiences. As a result, Ofsted has reissued both compliance notices under regulation 10 and regulation 12.

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This monitoring visit

At the last inspection, 16 requirements were made. At this inspection, the inspectors found that one of these requirements has been met. The others were not considered and will be reviewed as part of the next full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

There are currently six children living in the home. No children have moved into or out of the home since the last inspection. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674760 2 Some staff fail to understand children’s health needs, and they are not skilled to meet children’s complex needs. For example, some staff have not received training in ADHD, self-harm, angioedema, foetal alcohol, transgender and type 1 diabetes. Shortfalls in training in these areas mean that staff are not equipped with the appropriate skills and training to better support children.

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This monitoring visit

There have been several significant safeguarding incidents where children have been at risk of harm. Incidents have not always been responded to effectively and recorded appropriately. The manager and staff do not demonstrate that they have the skills and experience to keep children safe. Managers do not ensure that they consider all information about children to manage risks suitably. Risk assessments do not always provide staff with clear, updated guidance and strategies to manage risk. For example, one child is at risk of high exploitation online. This child had recently been provided a laptop with internet access. There were no risk management plans in place to provide guidance to staff on how to keep the child safe while online. Further to this, the inspector observed that this child was not being supervised using this laptop throughout the inspection. This does not ensure that children are protected from harm.

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This monitoring visit

One child spends frequent time away from the home in their local area. On occasions, they have been reported missing from home and have disclosed that they have engaged in drug-taking activities. Although risk assessments give guidance to staff to complete regular welfare calls to ensure that the child is safe in the community, to complete mobile phone checks every night and to complete room searches when the child is missing from home, this is not consistently followed. As a result, staff have not taken effective action to keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

There has been an increase in incidents of self-harm during this inspection period. Following incidents of self-harm, consistent practice around welfare checks on children and room searches to safeguard children has improved. However, one child told the inspector that when staff complete room searches, these are poor and that staff had left items such as vapes and glass shards in their bedroom. They also commented that staff had left the cupboard that contains cleaning substances open for over two hours the previous day. This does not show that staff are alert to risk and respond appropriately to try and remove items that children have that they could use to harm themselves with. The manager’s and staff’s inability to identify and act on signs a child is at risk of harm at an early stage places children at risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and staff have failed to respond to or address reports of bullying. For example, four children told the inspector that bullying behaviours are still present in the home and staff do not consistently challenge this. Because of this, children feel that staff do not take their concerns seriously and feel unsafe living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

One child made an allegation that they had been touched inappropriately by a staff member. Following this allegation, appropriate action was taken to safeguard the child and all relevant people such as social workers and the local authority Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674760 3 designated officer were notified. However, the social worker has not responded or taken any action to speak to the child. Managers have failed to take effective action to escalate these concerns and, as a result, the case remains open, one month later. Furthermore, when this child was asked if they wanted to make a complaint in relation to the incident, they responded, ‘Nah, it’s calm, nothing will get done about it anyway.’ This lack of response reaffirms this child’s thoughts and feelings about the home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not receive training to safeguard children sufficiently. For example, some staff have not had training in safeguarding, anti-bullying, online safety, exploitation and missing from home. This means that some staff are without the skills to keep children safe and protect them from harm.

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This monitoring visit

Managers do not ensure that staff manage risk effectively. Poor decisions and planning have been made by staff. These failures have put children at risk of harm. For example, due to an inadequate decision and planning made by staff, three children were reported missing from the home. One child was missing from the home overnight. While the other two children were found shortly afterwards, the police were called to support to manage their behaviours. This resulted in both children being restrained by police and receiving several bruises. As a result, children’s welfare and safety were compromised, which resulted in a serious incident and a negative impact on children’s experiences.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has now ensured that high priority actions on the fire risk assessment have been completed. In addition to this, the fire service also attended the home to complete a full audit to ensure that this is a safe environment for children to live.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s health needs and diagnoses are now recorded in their plans. For example, for one child who has a specific health condition, their plans now give clear direction in how to manage and mitigate the risks identified. Staff have been provided with some training to upskill them around this specific medical condition, and further training in this has been scheduled with medical professionals. Additionally, new protocols have been implemented to ensure that record-keeping is improved.

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This monitoring visit

Staff support and encourage children to ensure that they have access to relevant services for physical, emotional and mental health. Children have been supported by staff to attend their medical appointments and specialist services. Children’s involvement in their health needs has improved and focal sessions cover strategies to support with health needs. Children are now provided with a nutritious and balanced diet and their health needs are met. For example, one child now follows a specific diet, and a chef has been appointed to support with preparing gluten-free meals. As a result, children’s overall health needs are now promoted. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674760 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/09/2023 Full Inadequate 17/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674760 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d)

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that they advocate for children, and that they take effective action to challenge relevant people to ensure that children’s needs are being met. 3 December 2023

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that staff— 3 December 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674760 6 help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The manager must ensure that all children are supported to have structured routines to support and encourage education attendance. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674760 7 *The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The manager must ensure that staff receive training around children’s specific health needs and that their health needs are met. 5 November 2023

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; 3 December 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674760 8 help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children; understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(xi)(xii)(xiii))

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Requirement Due date

The manager must ensure that children’s complaints are taken seriously and that any concerns around bullying are dealt with promptly.

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Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; 5 November 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674760 9 help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The manager must ensure that risk assessments give clear direction to staff, especially around children going missing from home and self-harm, that staff take effective action around risks, that children are supported to understand how to keep themselves safe, and that the manager has effective oversight over any incidents.

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Requirement Due date

*The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; 5 November 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674760 10 ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The manager must ensure that monitoring tools are implemented to provide effective oversight of the home, that all staff receive all relevant training in relation to their role, and that children receive continuity of care from the staff who look after them.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The manager must ensure that children have a positive experience arriving at and leaving the home. The manager must ensure that referrals are fully considered so that they are able to meet the child’s needs prior to them living in the home. 3 December 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. 3 December 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674760 11 The registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The manager must ensure that the statement of purpose is kept under review and sent to Ofsted within timescales and that the model of care is imbedding in the home.

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The manager must ensure that children can access all areas of the home. 3 December 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The manager must ensure that staff have received appropriate training in the administration of medication and 3 December 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674760 12 that records give clear direction to staff to follow when administering medication.

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

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Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children. (Regulation 28 (1)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that a manager is appointed to oversee the home, who meets the requirements in regulation 28. 3 December 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff receive regular practice-related supervision. 3 December 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)) 3 December 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674760 13 The manager must ensure that all safeguarding records are kept up to date and in line with the home’s policy and procedure.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 3 December 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674760 14 The manager must ensure that restraint records include all details in line with regulation 35.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The manager must ensure that Ofsted is notified of any serious events without delay. 3 December 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report"). (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3))

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Requirement Due date

The manager must ensure that the quality-of-care review includes consultation with relevant people and that incidents are reviewed and evaluated to support the development of the home. 3 December 2023

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674760 15

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674760 16

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Rebecca Grimshaw

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Inspectors

Marianne Grandfield, Social Care Inspector Dean Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2674760 17 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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